Ashley Banjo has reportedly been approached about putting together a huge dance routine, for the opening ceremony of this year’s London Olympics.

The Got To Dance judge of course shot to fame after his dance troupe ‘Diversity’ beat Susan Boyle and won Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009. He now judges on Sky One’s reality TV series Got To Dance, which airs on Sunday nights and will soon front his own show for the channel, titled ‘Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew.’

The Sun reports that the hunky star is in talks with the London Organising Committee Of the Olympic Games about coming up with an impressive street dance for the ceremony and a friend told the newspaper:

“He was tapped up because he is the perfect embodiment of the games.

“He’s from Leytonstone, just up the road from the Olympic site in east London, and is young and cool.

“He’s excited because it’s the biggest thing he’s been involved in.”

The opening ceremony will be huge and will air to millions of TV viewers later this year. It will include:

Receiving the Head of State of the Host Country

Parade of Athletes

Speeches

Playing the Olympic Anthem and the entry and raising of the Olympic Flag

Oaths

The Torch and lighting of the Cauldron

View the original post Got To Dance’s Ashley Banjo to choreograph a dance routine for London Olympics 2012 on Unreality TV

Got To Dance 2011 unearthed some of the most amazing and unique dancing talent in the country and now it’s back for a third series this January on Sky 1 HD.

Got To Dance looks to discover the country’s most talented dance floor divas by scouring the nation for Britain’s best crews, troupes and solo dancers of all styles and ages. Davina McCall hosts the competition that will push contestants to their limits as they strive to win the life-changing cash prize of £250k.

Auditions range from the comedic to the sublime and are judged by a panel of outspoken, world-class experts: West End star and actor, Adam Garcia; singer and trained dancer Kimberly Wyatt; and Ashley Banjo, lead dancer and choreographer of Diversity.

Davina McCall said: “I am literally beside myself with excitement at the return of our third series of Got To Dance. I love working with gorgeous Adam, lovely Kimberly and of course sweetheart Ashley! Just you wait until you see the auditions – this year the bar has been raised even higher with so many acts worthy of a quarter of a million.”

A total of eight audition shows have been filmed in Dublin, Glasgow and London. This year, the talent who have appeared in front of the judges have been of a world class level – from the experimental hip hop displayed by Chuck to the pole dancing from Bendy Kate; from hip hop super crew A-Team to Irish dancers Prodijig.

Following these, the judges must whittle those who made the shortlist down to a Final 30, who will then compete across five live semi-final shows. A public vote will decide the eight finalists who will fight for the coveted crown in front of a 6,000-strong audience at Kensington Olympia. This spectacular finale will also be available to view on Sky 3D.

Since their win last year, cheeky double-act Chris & Wes have been touring the country and have secured their own series on Sky 1 HD – CHRIS & WES LET’S DO THIS. Airing on weeknights at 6pm from Monday 19 December, the ten-part series will follow the lads 24/7 as they embark on a host of brand new adventures. Each episode will be driven by a new milestone in the dance careers- be it a looming professional performance or a significant personal achievement.

New. Unmissable. Exclusive. Got To Dance launches on Sunday 1 January at 6pm on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1. The second audition show will air on Monday 2 January at 6pm.

View the original post Davina McCall, Adam Garcia, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Banjo return to Sky 1 with Got To Dance 2012! on Unreality TV

Got to Dance 2011 unearthed some of the most amazing and unique dancing talent in the country and soon it will be back for a third series this January on Sky 1.

The reality TV series looks to discover the country’s most talented dance floor divas by scouring the nation for Britain’s best crews, troupes and solo dancers of all styles and ages. Davina McCall hosts the competition that will push contestants to their limits as they strive to win the life-changing cash prize of £250k.

Auditions range from the comedic to the sublime and are judged by a panel of outspoken, world-class experts: West End star and actor, Adam Garcia; singer and trained dancer Kimberly Wyatt; and Ashley Banjo, lead dancer and choreographer of Diversity.

Davina McCall said: “I am literally beside myself with excitement at the return of our third series of GOT TO DANCE. I love working with gorgeous Adam, lovely Kimberly and of course sweetheart Ashley! Just you wait until you see the auditions – this year the bar has been raised even higher with so many acts worthy of a quarter of a million.”

A total of eight audition shows have been filmed in Dublin, Glasgow and London. This year, the talent who have appeared in front of the judges have been of a world class level – from the experimental hip hop displayed by Chuck to the pole dancing from Bendy Kate; from hip hop super crew A-Team to Irish dancers Prodijig.

Following these, the judges must whittle those who made the shortlist down to a Final 30, who will then compete across five live semi-final shows. A public vote will decide the eight finalists who will fight for the coveted crown in front of a 6,000-strong audience at Kensington Olympia. This spectacular finale will also be available to view on Sky 3D.

Since their win last year, cheeky double-act Chris & Wes have been touring the country and have secured their own series on Sky 1 HD – CHRIS & WES LET’S DO THIS. Airing on weeknights at 6pm from Monday 19 December, the ten-part series will follow the lads 24/7 as they embark on a host of brand new adventures. Each episode will be driven by a new milestone in the dance careers- be it a looming professional performance or a significant personal achievement.

GOT TO DANCE launches on Sunday 1 January at 6pm on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1. The second audition show will air on Monday 2 January at 6pm.

View the original post Got To Dance 2012 returns with Davina McCall, Adam Garcia, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Banjo in January! on Unreality TV

David Walliams and Dannii Minogue have reportedly signed up as judges for the next series of Britain’s Got Talent.

It has been claimed that former X Factor judge Dannii will join Amanda Holden on the judging panel of the ITV show, when panel auditions start in the New Year. The Australian star has been in London for a few weeks and has reportedly used the time to meet with show bosses and work on scheduling times and dates where she will be available for filming.

If the news is true, it will mark a big British TV comeback for the mum of one who stepped down – possibly before she was pushed – from The X Factor earlier this year.

Joining her and pregnant star Amanda, will allegedly be Little Britain star David Walliams.

It is reported that he will replace David Hasselhoff – who was dropped from the lineup earlier this year – and it is hoped the star will win viewers over with his light hearted humour and cutting wit when the show returns next spring.

An ITV source told The Mirror:

“Everybody is really excited about the new line-up. David was confirmed this week and the producers think it’s the best yet.

“He’s a real favourite with the nation and Dannii is hugely popular. It’s ­exciting for her to be coming back.”

However insiders say that before Dannii fully commits to the show, she is insisting that bosses are very clear about dates and pin down exactly when and where the auditions will be taking place, to avoid a repeat of last year’s X Factor negotiations.

Minogue has claimed that she had agreed a deal for the series but was forced to pull out after producers re-jigged the schedule so it worked for new judge Gary Barlow. But the new dates clashed with Dannii’s Australia’s Got Talent gig.

A source added:

“She needs confirmed shooting schedules and dates for the entire series before she packs her bags and lets other opportunities go. It starts shooting in just a few weeks and she does have other offers to think about and consider.

“Dannii was really disappointed not to be able to return to the UK for this year’s X Factor, so she wants to make this work.”

Dannii recently hinted that she was in talks with BGT bosses, during an interview with Channel 4′s Alan Carr, though she insisted she had no solid plans for UK TV appearances at the minute.

Meanwhile, Amanda Holden confessed that she’d love some girly help on the panel and that Dannii would really fit the bill.

The newspaper also reports that Diversity star Ashley Banjo – who has also judged on Sky 1′s Got To Dance – is in talks currently about acting as a stand in judge, covering for Amanda when she is on maternity leave.

If the rumours are true, do you think this will be a good BGT lineup? Leave your comments below.

View the original post David Walliams, Ashley Banjo and Dannii Minogue to join Amanda Holden on Britain’s Got Talent 2012? on Unreality TV

Ashley Banjo has admitted that he was glad when Jai McDowall won the recent ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ series.

The dancer and leader of Diversity dance troupe, who won the ITV show in 2009, said that the Scottish care worker was one of his top three favourite acts ever to appear on the show, alongside his own group and operatic sensation Paul Potts..

Ashley told BANG Showbiz: “Jai one hundred percent deserved to win. There’s just something about him. His performance at the semi-final was up there with my top three favourite performances ever on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

“I’d have to put Diversity in there! And opera singer Paul Potts from the first series.”

However, 12-year-old Ronan Parke – who was runner-up to Jai – also received high praise from Ashley, despite claims the show had been fixed in his favour.
He added: “Ronan’s just such a talented little boy – he’s brilliant. He’s got a really powerful, refined voice for his age. I suppose people just aren’t satisfied without a little bit of controversy, but Ronan’s going to do really well for himself anyway.”

Diversity embark on their biggest UK Arena tour to date on March 29 at Glasgow’s SECC venue. Tickets are now on sale. See www.gigsandtours.com for more details.

View the original post Got To Dance’s Ashley Banjo backed Jai McDowall on Britain’s Got Talent on Unreality TV

He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “When we went up to Edinburgh for the first auditions it was pretty scary – I was like, ‘Wow, I’m actually behind the panel!’

“It was also a little intimidating at first because, you know – she’s Kimberly, she was a Pussycat Doll! But she’s brilliant and we get along great. Kimberly’s turned out to be a really good friend.”

Ashley explained the most difficult part of judging the dancing competition was rejecting talented hopefuls, but he has been able to draw on his own experiences with Diversity to help contestants deal with rejection.

He added: “I hate cutting people – I hate being that guy who says, ‘No’, but sometimes on the judging panel you have to be ruthless.

“Everyone has to prepare themselves for rejection – we had to do it so many times on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

“Contestants get so crushed about the word no that they don’t realise what we’re saying will actually help them in the long run, because in that moment it feels like the end of the world.”

View the original post Got To Dance 2011: Ashley Banjo felt “intimidated” by Kimberly Wyatt on Unreality TV

Here Come The Girls will make their TV debut on tonight’s Got To Dance. Hailing from Maidstone, this ladies formation dance team are aged 23-65 and started up when they couldn’t find enough men to take part, although they won’t give up in their search for the perfect partner. “It’s very difficult to get a male partner, the ratio of men to women – there are far more women. But if there are any hot men watching they can come and join!”

Tia Maria from the group has her eye on one man in particular – “I want to impress and marry Ashley. That would be the icing on the cake to speak to Ash, as he likes to be known, oh sorry…”

After a routine to Big Spender, Tia Maria tries to flirt her way onto the shortlist – “Ashley, would you marry me? If you did I would be Tia Maria Banjo sand that would be so cool” By way of reply Ashley chooses to change his star to gold – “I think you’re worth a gold just for the pure fun factor. Come one guys (to other Judges), we’ve got to see these guys back, give ‘em a gold, give ‘em a gold.”

Not content with just trying to sway his fellow Judges, Ashley also get s on stage for a hug with Tia Maria but gets a bit more than he bargained for as she goes in for a kiss!

View the original post Got To Dance: ‘Here Come The Girls’ have their eyes on Ashley Banjo! on Unreality TV

Kayzar Reloaded are a street dance group of 8-30 year olds from a dance school in Essex.

The troupe auditioned for the Got To Dance judges and after their routine, which will be aired tonight, Kimberly and Ashley both seem to share the opinion that they didn’t show quite enough dancing – Kimberly says “you just didn’t’ give me that dance moment” and Ashley comments “as far as the dancing goes I think you needed to give me a little bit more. “

But after feeding back to the group, Ashley then changes his mind when he takes into consideration the concept of their dance, explaining “I changed my mind because crews generally miss originality and soul and feeling and you guys had that.”

This doesn’t go down well with Kimberly who states “we always say once chance, one dance, there wasn’t really a dance to put you through. The concept stands out the dancing doesn’t”

It seems this incidence has sparked some feeling in Kimberly who later complains “Ashley definitely made the wrong decision, you can’t think afterwards; oh I might have hurt them”

Another act to cause some friction are Eastern Roses, a six strong belly dancing troupe aged between 24-39 who claim that it is very empowering for a lady to start belly dancing.

When Ashley changes his mind during judging again, Kimberly sighs “where’s the dancing? I think you’re soft today – pretty mushy over there. As soon as you start to hurt people’s feeling you switch”

Ashley disagrees –“that’s not true at all. If that was the case I would give golds everytime because it hurts everybody.”

Kimberly mocks “you basically do” and Ashley retorts “Well you basically give reds all the time. I judge from here (gesturing to his heart) , not here (gesturing to his head) all the time”. Kimberly denies this and claims “I connect the two and judge honestly” but Ashley has the last word “if you connect the two this is ice (gesturing to heart again)” before they laugh and share a hug and peace is restored on the judging panel once more.

View the original post Got To Dance: Ashley Banjo and Kimberly Wyatt row over Kayzar Reloaded on Unreality TV

Got To Dance judge Ashley Banjo has admitted that he thinks Britain’s Got Talent will struggle to bring in it’s normal record breaking rating figures, without the presence of music mogul Simon Cowell.

Simon has decided not to sit on the ITV show’s panel this year because of his new American X Factor series and will not be attending any of the UK wide auditions. Instead David Hasselhoff, Michael McIntyre and Amanda Holden will sort the wheat from the chaff and Cowell will only show his face for the live shows later this year.

Ashley Banjo, 22, won the talent extravaganza with his dance troupe Diversity in 2009 and in an interview with The Daily Star admitted that he doesn’t think the new judges (and Amanda) will gel as a panel. He said:

“I do think Britain’s Got Talent will struggle a little without Simon.

“I like the new judges as individuals but I’m not sure if they will work as a panel.

“It will be really different without Simon. After all he is the man.”

The hunky knows what he’s talking about. As well as dancing as part of Diversity, Ashley also judges on Sky One’s ‘Got To Dance’ alongside former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and broadway star Adam Garcia.

On thir new series, which returns tonight, Ash said:

“Everything is bigger and better – the quality of talent, the prize money, the production.”

And on suggestions that they should take a year off due to lack of talent he added:

“One year might be stronger than another but I think you will always find the talent.”

View the original post Got To Dance: Ashley Banjo thinks Britain’s Got Talent will ‘struggle’ without Simon Cowell on Unreality TV

Eleven ladies, aged between 13 and 19 years old, headed up by 43 year old Alison showed up at the Got To Dance auditions to rock the Judges with a new twist on Street dance which they have called ‘Street Rock’.

As Alison explains it is “street moves to rock music. Never seen anything like before and I think we are different and it works brilliantly”

After their audition, it seems it is Kimberly who is rocked by what her fellow judges think of the group. After Ashley and Adam give their comments Kimberly’s response is “I think both the boys are out of their minds and absolutely blind. I thought it as the most explosive piece I’ve seen all day. I thought it was incredible. It made me rock out.”Adopting Ashley’s earlier tactic, she turns to the audience for support – “Did you guys feel that?”. But will Kimberly be able to gather enough support to change the boys’ minds?

Got To Dance Sunday 9th January, 7pm, Sky 1 HD

View the original post Got To Dance 2011: Rock Chix impress Kimberly Wyatt but leave Ashley Banjo and Adam Garcia cold! on Unreality TV